An improved process for preparing synthetic ferrierites having the absorption and catalytic properties characteristic of 5 to 8 angstrom zeolites which comprises promoting an alkaline reaction mixture comprising Group I and/or Group II cations, a source of silica, a source of alumina with lithium cations. The promoted reaction mixture is seeded with natural or synthetic ferrierite seeds, and heated to convert the mass to the synthetic ferrierite.The product has the empirical formula, 0.1 to 0.9 Li.sub.2 O:0.1:0.9 R.sub.2 0:Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 :6 to 25 SiO.sub.2 wherein R.sub.2 O is Na.sub.2 O, K.sub.2 O, or Rb.sub.2 O and/or Cs.sub.2 O; 0.1 to 0.9 Li.sub.2 O:0.1 to 0.9 WO:Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 :6 to 25 SiO.sub.2 wherein WO is BaO, CaO, MgO or SrO; or (Li.sub.2 O:R.sub.2 O:WO):Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 :6-25 SiO.sub.2 where R.sub.2 O is any R.sub.2 O above and WO is any WO above.